Trunking-conduit construction



Feb. 15S, i921 1,617,625

J. m FWZERALD TRUNKING CONDUIT CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 5. 1920 ,Patented Feb. `15, 1927.

PATENT oFFIcE.

JOI-IN M. FITZ GERALD, OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS.

TRUNKING-CONDUIT CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed August 5, 1920. SerialNo. 401,394.

invention relates to conduits such as are positioned along the right-of-way of railroads for carrying electric wires for operating switches, signals, etc. These conduits are usually called trunking boxes or simply trunking It is old practice to make a sectional channel-like trunking boX trough section of wood `with a sectional board cover nailed upon the-top. It has been suggest-ed also to make the sectional channel-like troughs of concrete and to provide sectional concrete cover members or capping held on the trough sections by a reduced portion extending downward between the side walls. Such trunking has been carried on wooden or concrete posts along the track, and the contiguous sections have been laid so as to abut each other end to end. Numerous objections and diicultijes have been experienced in the use of both the wooden and the concrete construction as heretofore employed.

The principal objects of the present improvements are to provide a trunking conduit device which is peculiarly strong and durable, onewhichmay easily and readily be intalled in service, and, importantly, one which ywhen installed will be substantially water-tight and will maintain `the contents intheir desired substantially dry condition. An important object is to provide a combination in which the capping is securely held in position but which may be readily removed for such purposes as insertion, removal or inspection of wires. Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Y A,In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view through t-he device at a pedestal, showing 'one arrangement, as on the line lkl of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal vertical section, as on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing abutting end portions of contiguous sections of the trunking device;V Y

Fig. Sis a perspective of the shield del viceweather-obstructing cover for the capping at the joint;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the body part of the shield device.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation and Fig. 6 is an 12 as shown.

edge elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a locking member shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. is a perspective, on an enlarged scale, of a retaining member which is part of the locking device shown in Fig. 1.

The pedestal or base 10 is of concrete and has embedded therein the U-shaped piece 11 of round iron which, in my practice, is about three-eighths of an inch in diameter and provides the studs 12 projecting vertically upward, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the trunking, and which serve to lock the trunking` and associated parts against lateral and longitudinal movement on the base.

My improved trunking includes an opentop trough or channel comprising side walls 14 and a bottom wall 15 of concrete. Itis made in sections which maybe of any convenient length and are ordinarily about eight feet long. Two such sections A andV B are fragmentarily shown as substantially abutting each other in Fig. 2. Each section is provided near its end with a cored hole 16 adapted to receive one of the studs The holes 16 are slightly larger in diameter than are the studs 12 in order to take care of expansion and contraction of the sections and to compensate for slight inequalities in the construction or the positioning of the pedestal parts in practice. Each side wall 14 is provided at its upper edge with an inner longitudinal ridgelike projection 17.

My improved capping 18 consists of a concrete section which in practice will ordinarily be of nearly the same length as is the trunking trough. It has two upwardly tapering walls terminating in a central ridge, which construction at once makes an effective watershed and, importantly,l prevents railroad employes or trespassers from walking upon the device, a practice which is quite common and which frequently results in injury. The concrete capping 1S is provided with the downwardly extending longitudinal outer ridge-like projections 19 which intert withand encompass the projections 17 respectively, thus forming a rabbet-joint between the capping and the side walls of the trough adapted to hold the capping securely and at the same time prevent rain which the studs 12 project. Each section ot trunking A and B is provide/l with vertical andhorizon-tal recesses 26. and 2 7positionedso as to receive the ribs 23 and 2i respectively.v The recesses 26 and 2T are somewhat wider. in the longitudinal directions ofthe trunking than are the ribs 23 and 24: to take care of expansion and slight variations in construction.v In my practice the yoke 20is. made ofcast iron.

I also provide a metallic cast iron cover B() shaped so. as to lit upon the top surface ofthe cappingv 18 and provided with downwardly extendingside flanges 31 which respectively Overlap the upper portions of the side walls 21 of the yoke 20. thus forming a weather-lap or. ship-lap ointbetween these metallic yoke andcover parts. The under side of the ine-- tallie cover. 3() has projections in the form of ribs 32. andthe concrete cover has correspondingjrecesses with which the projections 32. interlit, thus..providing` an interlock between the concrete cappingV and the metallie cover-part 3() against relative. longitudinal movement.

It will be noted that the vertical ribs 223 extend to the top-of the side walls 21 of the yoke. The extensions 19 of the cappinghave verticalgroo-ves adapted ,to receive the upper endsotthe ribs 21. Thecapping may therefore be properly positionedA upon the trough sections before the cover member() is ap plied andfan interlock is thus rrovided betweenithe capping and the yoke.

In this connection it ispoin-ted out that the cappingsections 18v are somewhat shorter than. thetrough sections to provide an opening/1180. into which the .lingers of theV workman may project in positioning'` or removing' the concrete cover thus avoiding; the necessity et handles heretofore provided at lthe sidesofthe capping, and enabling two mento position or remove this member instead offfour asin the older practice.

From Eig. .3 `it will bewell observed that on the` outer` surface of each of the depen-ding flanges 31 there is a pair of outwardly projecting, spaced apa-rt oppositely disposed integral lockingyn'rembers each of which hasatrunnion b'earingat Set and'also a vertically disposed 'recess 'From Figs. 1 and 4 it will be seen that each side wall 21 of the yoke 20`is provided with similar pair of oppositely disposedoutwardly extending integral projections 3G having the vertically disposed opposite and facing recesses 37. livhen the cover 30 is in its operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, each vertical recess 35 is in alignment with a recess 37.

For locking the cover 30 and'yoke 20 to- `'eher I provide lirst a plurality of horizontally disposed corrugations d0 on the thickened side wall 21 between the projections ltf. There is next provided a plate-like locking` member Lt1 having` the laterally extendingtrunnions .lf2 vand the depending body -13, the latter having` a plurality of ridges-lli adapted Vto interlit with the groovesbetween the corrugationsel() as well seeniin'Fig, l. The body -l of the locking member 41 has slightly l.ess widththan the-horizontal distance between the projections 86 (Fi et) land also between the projections 325i (Fiep` 3) whereby when the trunnions 112' are in the trunnion seats Set (Figi. 3) the bodyt?)A ma.)1 swinginwardly or outwardly between the oppositely disposed projections mentioned and thereby caused to engage the. projections 4() as illustrated in Fig'. 1 or be moved'out of such locking'A engagement.

In order to hold the member Lil'in its-lockinpj` position I provide what I may call the follower block 1G (Figui) having', the hea-d et? adapted to lrest 'upon the top surface of the projections 2:33 and having; the downwardly and laterally extending, flanges 48 adapted'totit for easy sliding movement into the verticalrecesses 35 and 37' ot the j jirojections 33 andBtrespectively, the thickened middle portion 49 of this block 46 occupying the space between the outer portionsof the n'ojections 3301i the cover and the projections 36 on theshiel'd. rllhe follower1 block partsV L18 and 119 may be struck upward lightly with a-hammen to remove this member should it become rusted in place. andthe locking` member 4123. may readily be pried loose should it similarly become tightly bound.

According', to this construction it is apparent that in assembli'irei the device the yoke 2l) may be set upon the pedestal 10 and'tlrereupon the end portions. of the trough sections A.. and B of the trunkingmaybe lowered Vbetween the side walls of the member 20.l the studs 12 holdingl the troughs andthe yoke'in position. and that thereupon the cappingsections may be laid upon the trough sections as shown in Fig. 2. and that thereupon-the metallic cover 31 may be placed upon the capping` and be securely locked for easy removability by the locking; device including the members 111 and `1G. The several sec-tions are thus not only securely held together and upon the pedestal but they are so heldby means which effectively protect the interior of the trunl-ing' from the weather.

ifi/lithin the hollow interior I provide a running frame-work of'woodcomprising the board and the lateral supports 51, thus forming a wooden bottom upon which the wires may rest. Should water occur within the hollow interior, as by condensation, it readily drains away through cored holes as 55, Fig. 2, provided at intervals in each bottom wall of the trough.

While I have illustrated and describe-d a preferred embodiment of these improvements reference should be had; to the appended claims to determine the scope of the invention herein set forth.

I claim:

l. In a trunking conduit device, the combina-tion of a pedestal, two substantially horizontal trough sections meeting substantially end tofend above the pedestal, capping upon the'trough sections, m-eans forming an open-top yoke closely fitting upon and outside of the trough sections and overlying the joint between the two sections at the sides and bottom thereof, said yoke having projections Vand the sections having interfitting recesses for holding the sections in readily removable relation to the yoke, a cover overlying thel capping above said joint, means for holding the cover readily removably upon the yoke, and means for holding the yoke upon the pedestal.

2. In a trunking conduit device, the combination of a pedestal, two trough sections meeting end to end above the pedestal, each trough section having vertical side walls and a horizontal bottom wall and being open at the top, a capping section on each trough section, the capping sections having ends close together at the abutting ends of the trough sections, the capping sections interfitting respectively with the trough sections with a substantially waterproof joint, the capping sections terminating sutiiciently short of each Vother-'to provide a hand opening between them, means forming a. substantially waterproof open top housing having a horizontal bottom and two side walls extending upward along the sides of the trough sections and overlying the abutting ends thereof, said housin walls extending substantiallyrto the top o "the side walls, a cover overlying the spaced-apart ends of the capping sections, interengaging means between said cover and said housing for holding the cover readily removably in fixed relation to the housing whereby upon removal thereof access may be had to said hand opening and the capping is freed for removal from the trough sections respectively, and means for holding the trough sections on the 'i pedestal against longitudinal movement.

3. In a trunking conduit device, the combination of a pedestal, an open-top yoke substantially in the form of three flat plates forming apair of vertical side walls and a horizontal bottom wall, means for holding saidyoke on the pedestal, a pair of trough sections abutting each other end to end and having vertical side walls and a horizontal wall conforming in shape to said yoke and adapted to interit therewith whereby the walls of the yoke closely overlie the abutting ends of the trough sections, the arrangement providing that the trough sections may be lifted vertically out of the yoke, a capping section on each of the trough sections, the adjacent ends of the capping sections being above the yoke and substantially close to the joint formed by the abutting ends of the trough sections, a readily removable cover overlying the adjacent ends of the capping at the yoke, and means for holding the trough sections against longitudinal movement.

4. In a trunking conduit device, the combination of a pedestal, a pair of projections extending upward therefrom, two substantially horizontal trough sections meeting substantially end to end at the pedestal, each of said trough sections having an opening to receive one of said projections to hold the trough sections against longitudinal move ment and for readily removabihty in the vertical direction, an open-top yoke encompassing the sides and bottom of the end portions of the trough sections, said projections extending also through the bottom of said yoke and holding it readily removably in position, capping on the trough sections, and a cover for the capping at th-e yoke, said cover being secured readily removably upon the yoke.

5. In a trunking conduit device, the combination of a pedestal, a pair of projections extending upward therefrom, two substantially horizontal trough sections of hardened plastic material each having a horizontal bottom and two vertical sides meeting substantially end to end at the pedestal, each of said trough sections having an opening in its bottom to receive one of said projections to hold the trough sections against longitudinal movement and for ready removability in the vertical direction, a metallic open-top yoke encompassing the sides and bottm of the end portions of the trough sections, said projections extending also through the bottom of said yoke and holding it readily removably in position, capping of hardened plastic material on the trough sections, t-he capping and the trough sections having an interitting substantially weatherproof joint locking the capping to the trough sections against lateral movement, a cover for the abutting ends of the capping at the yoke, and means for holding the cover readily removably upon the yoke, there beino interengaging means between the cover and the capping to hold the capping against longitudinal movement. j

JOHN M. FITZ GERALD.

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